Assessment of Exit Temperature Pattern Factors in an Annular Gas Turbine Combustor: An Overview

Abstract

Abstract The present paper overviews the works carried out on achieving desired temperature pattern factors at combustor exit in gas turbine engines. These pattern factors are very important from the point of engine performance and life of turbine blades and vanes. They are controlled by a number of geometrical parameters such as liner front-end air passages, primary air holes, atomizer characteristics and air swirl number and dilution zone geometrical configuration. Combustor inlet pressure, Mach number, velocity profile and fuel-air ratio are the major operating parameters that influence the pattern factors. Due to the design uniqueness and importance of pattern factors, it is always a challenge to assess the pattern factors over a wide range of mission points for a gas turbine combustor designed for combat aircraft.